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Living and working together as the Body of Christ
within the Full Household of God
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March 1, 2008
E-NEWSLETTER
In This Issue
Stop U.S. Sponsored Torture
Advocacy Day 2008
Legislative Update
Support YOUR Council
Public Hearings
Ecumenism Awards
SCCAC Annual Meeting
Quick Links
 

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BrendaFrom across my desk...
 
"Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved--policy-makers, perpetrators, and victims. It contradicts our nation's most cherished ideals. Any policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.

Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed? Let America abolish torture now--without exceptions."

So reads the Statement of Conscience of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture.
 
Your Council's Board of Directors agrees with this statement. Our own resolution supports it. CLICK HERE to read our resolution.
 
Last week, the U.S. Congress passed Bill H.R. 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Bill. Section 327 contains important anti-torture provisions requiring all intelligence agencies to abide by the restrictions in the Army Field Manual while conducting interrogations. The Army Field Manual prohibits torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
 
President Bush has indicated that he plans to VETO this bill.
 
You can continue to raise your voice on this issue by telling President Bush to NOT veto this bill. Through the website of The National Religious Campaign Against Torture  you can send President Bush your message.
 
Join Your Council in this important advocacy for the moral high road. Work with us to end torture.
 
 ...that's the view today.
 
The Reverend Brenda Kneece,
Executive Minister

Advocacy Day

Main Street United Methodist Church
1830 Main Street, Columbia
CLICK HERE for Church Website
 
March 27, 2008
 
Nurturing the Least of These:
Public School Funding
 
Ed March Presentations include
- We Should Nurture the Least of These: Moral and Ethical Imperatives
- We Can Nurture the Least of These, Dr. Jim Rex, SC Superintendent of Education
- Political Barriers to Nurturing the Least of These, Legislators Panel Moderated by Mr. Fred Sheheen.
Legislators: Senator Wes Hayes (R, York), Senator Vincent Sheheen (D. Kershaw), and Representative Joe Neal (D, Richland)
 
Registration at 10:30 AM, event concludes at 2:30 PM.
 
Registration fee: $20 per person includes lunch ($10 without lunch). Pre-registration due on or before March 20. Registration at the door $15--no lunch. To download and print registration form CLICK HERE.
 
For more information contact SCCAC.
 
Photo: March for Education Funding Equity. Seated Mrs. Vivian Andrews, retired Christian educator; standing left to right: Rev. Brenda Kneece, Mr. Walter Andrews, and Dr. Arlene Andrews.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

 
Your Council continues to watch South Carolina 2008 Legislative activity and to advocate on issues of concern to people of faith. Here is an update on three issues.
 
IMMIGRATION
 
Thank you to all who contacted your Legislators about your concerns that the Immigration bill working its way through the Legislature be moral and ethical, and that it contain protective language for clergy and others who provide humanitarian aid with no intent to harbor.
 
Senate Bill 392 is now assigned to Conference Committee. This committee is comprised of appointed Representatives and Senators. These Legislators will work to reach a compromise reconciling the Senate and House versions of the Bill.
 
PAYDAY LENDER REGULATION
 
From John Rouff at SC Fair Share (to see web page CLICK HERE):
A bipartisan coalition of Senators rejected the compromise version of payday lending legislation and sent a much stronger version of S. 398 to the House. 
They marshaled the votes to extend the cooling off period between loans from 2 days to 7 days, to limit loans to one at a time, to require that lenders maintain documentation of their verification of the customer's income and to prohibit payday lenders having electronic access to take money out of a borrower's checking account.   In addition, the bill caps loans at 25 percent of a borrower's gross income during the term of the loan and establishes a statewide database to track loans.
 

We have been told that the House LCI Subcommittee will hear a presentation on the database and take up the bill in late March.  The industry is focused on reducing the waiting period from 7 days to 2 (or less), although their real goal will be to kill the bill.

CIGARETTE TAX
 
H. 3567 is currently in a Senate Finance subcommittee. 
Timing is critical for YOU to contact your Senator in support of raising the cigarette tax to support health care. We encourage visits and calls this week sharing this simple message:  "Raise the cigarette tax to fund health care." 
 
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
 
We encuorage you to contact your Legislators and voice your positions on these and other current issues.
 
To contact your Legislator or follow legislative activity CLICK HERE.

Support YOUR Council

- Promoting dialogue among diverse Christian traditions on matters of belief and practice. 
- Listening to each other.
- Inviting all Christians of good will to our table.
- Worshipping traditionally and contemporarily.
- Cherishing dialogue and relationships with our Inter-religious world.
- Working in partnership with other organizations for the common good.
- Pressing the call for justice in all walks of life.
 
This is YOUR Council. Together we are making a difference.
 
YOU can undergird the work of You Council by  volunteering to serve on a work group (currently active: Christian Unity and Public Policy Advocacy), inviting a Council representative to speak to your congregation or a small group within your congregation, volunteering to respond when public policy action alerts are sent, or by making a financial contribution.
 
To volunteer in any capacity CLICK HERE.
 
To engage a speaker or trainer CLICK HERE.
 
To donate now CLICK HERE.
 
Don't wait, find a way TODAY to support YOUR Council.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
On access to civil legal representation for South Carolinians of low income or with modest means.
 
South Carolina joins 26 other states who have already established Access to Justice initiatives.
The South Carolina Access to Justice (SCATJ) Commission is conducting a needs assessment via public hearings around the state to bring the issue into the public eye.
 
Speakers/potential speakers are asked to contact Robin F. Wheeler directly to sign up to speak. Each speaker will have 7 minutes to deliver their message. Hearings start at 4 PM and end at 6 PM.
March 13: Charleston County
March 27: Lexington County
 
April 10: Colleton County
April 17: Anderson County
 
May 29: Lancaster County
 
June 5: Florence County
June 26: Spartanburg County

The Commission is looking for service providers to speak as well as individuals to speak about some of the barriers to justice they have witnessed or experienced. Examples of barriers include language, cost (court costs and attorney fees), illiteracy, lack of transportation to the attorney and/or the courthouse, lack of accessibility due to disability, cognitive impairments, lack of childcare, etc.

Robin F. Wheeler, Esquire
Executive Director
South Carolina Access to Justice Commission
SC Bar
PO Box 608
Columbia, SC 29202-0608
803-799-6653 ext. 186
Fax: 803-799-5290

Ecumenism Award Nominations

YOUR Council is looking for a few great models of
ecumenical life and action in South Carolina.  The SCCAC Board hopes to present one or all of the following awards at the SCCAC Annual Meeting on May 15, 2008 at Zion Canaan Baptist Church.
 
The awards are as follows:
 

The Christian Action in Ecumenism Award recognizes a SC individual or group providing significant leadership or action in ecumenical or interfaith relations effecting understanding, respect, and cooperation within the faith community.

 

The Christian Action in Service Award recognizes a SC individual or group making a significant contribution of advocacy and service in grassroots social ministry rendered as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ, as a contribution to the community and reflecting the command of Jesus to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned.

 

The Howard G. McClain Christian Action in Public Policy Award recognizes a SC individual or group providing significant leadership or action in the area of Church and Society rendered as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ, as a contribution to the community, and which effects societal, systemic and structural change.

 

The Youth Ministry in Improving Race Relations Award recognizes a SC individual or group providing significant leadership or action in the area of Race Relations effecting understanding, respect, and cooperation within the community.

 
Please CLICK HERE to download more information and the nomination form. Nominations will be accepted until April 7, 2008.
 
Put your co-worker or neighbor or pastor or youth group up for one of these awards.
 
 
Mark Your Calendar
 
May 15, 2008

SCCAC Annual Meeting

Faith in Politics
 
Zion Canaan Baptist Church
Columbia
 
Click here for more information.
 
E-newsletter Editor
South Carolina Christian Action Council